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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Pink Gin Cocktail

You’ll
need a drink, of course – whether to celebrate victory or console
yourself in loss. And you’ll want something bracing, with a bit of
authority to it.

May we suggest a Pink Gin? It works
great as a pre-dinner drink (the austere but perky flavor can wake up
the tiredest taste buds). But it also makes a great libation when you
just, well, want a drink. Or need one.

So here’s a toast to the end of campaign season. At last.

Recipe: The Pink Gin Cocktail

The
Pink Gin Cocktail was developed during the early to mid-19th century,
probably by someone in the British Royal Navy. His name is forgotten,
but clearly he was a man of genius.

At that time,
seafaring folk got a daily ration of alcohol. Rum was the most common
spirit, but they consumed plenty of gin, too. Someone decided to add a
few dashes of bitters to his daily tot of gin, and the Pink Gin Cocktail
was born.

British sailors tended to drink Plymouth gin
– i.e., gin that was distilled in the seaside town of Plymouth.
Plymouth is a major port in southwest England (the Pilgrims set sail
from there on their way to New England), and home to many naval ships.

BTW,
British tars probably drank their Pink Gins warm. We’re not that Gunga
Din, so we like to serve ours on the rocks. Some people like to shake
the drink with ice and serve it “up” in a cocktail glass.

Fill a rocks (Old-Fashioned) glass three-quarters full with ice. Add the gin and bitters, then stir briefly.

Add a lemon twist for garnish, if you wish, and serve.

Notes

“Plymouth Gin” is a brand name today – though originally the term
referred more broadly to any gin manufactured in the city of Plymouth.

Plymouth Gin is distilled at the Black Friars Distillery in
Plymouth, England. It’s similar to London dry gin (the style of gin most
commonly found in liquor stores). But its flavor is smoother and less
harsh – probably because Plymouth Gin contains a higher proportion of
root-based flavoring ingredients. It also features less of the “juniper
forward” flavor so characteristic of gin.

We strongly recommend using Plymouth Gin the first time you make
this cocktail – the drink will be much smoother than it would be with
London dry. Most liquor stores stock Plymouth Gin.

Admittedly, we sometimes enjoy making this drink with London dry gin. But then, we really like the taste of gin.

Plymouth Gin is bottled in three different strengths, though the two
you’ll most commonly find are “original-strength” and “navy strength.”
The original-strength version has an alcohol quotient of 41.2% (82.4
proof). The navy-strength version contains a whopping 57% alcohol by
volume (114 proof).

We recommend using the original, not the navy, strength in this drink. Because the election hasn’t been that bad. OK, maybe it has been. But you get the point.

As you can probably guess, this drink tastes like gin. And bitters.
So people who hate the taste of gin won’t like this drink – though
they’ll probably hate it less with Plymouth gin.

Angostura bitters were developed in the river port of Angostura,
Venezuela (today called Ciudad Bolívar) during the 1820s by Johann
Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert. Today, we tend to regard bitters as a
cocktail ingredient, but they originated as a tonic. They’re said to be a
cure for hiccups and upset stomachs.

Bitters are too strong to drink by themselves. So, from the
beginning, they have always been mixed with liquid before being
consumed. At some point along the way, someone discovered that they were
particularly tasty when added to alcohol – and the rest is cocktail
history.

The Pink Gin Cocktail is often (usually) served without garnish. But
a lemon twist adds a pleasing note of citrus, so we like to use it.

Ginning Up Fortitude

“This drink is nice and strong,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “Just what I need to get through the end of campaign season.”

“Yup, this definitely is a grown-up drink,” I said. “Because elections are not child’s play.”

“Despite appearances to the contrary,” said Mrs K R.

“And it looks like the mud fighting will go on until the bitter end,” I said.

You are absolutely right.. this election season has been crazy and needs a drink, but what about those who do not drink!!! can you think of something? :). I'm sure that I will not be either celebrating or consoling but for sure I will be happy that this race is over.

Oh this election! Yes, I need a good, stiff drink! I do like the lemon twist too. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be an American, but then I remember that all this difference of opinion is part of the Democratic process (or so I try to tell myself!).

I actually had a dream about the election last night. I think it is due to all of the tv ads and chatter on Facebook. Whatever the reason, I need a drink and this one looks like it will do it. Beautiful drink.

I just invented my own Election Eve cocktail-it involves Pimm's, Deep Eddy's lemon vodka, and fizzy lemonade or lemon seltzer--it seems like we all crave going back to Mother England! I call it the LaGuardia Runway-

I may need this drink and a massage to relieve all the stress this election may cause. To make matters worse 2 independents have been added to the ticket to sway voters. Those 2 alone could get enough votes to totally screw things up causing the U.S. To end up with our worst nightmare whoever yours may be. Heaven help us!

Hi Lydia, pink gin used to be much more popular in the first half of the 20th century (and late 19th century). I understand it's still way more popular in Britain than it is in the rest of the world. Let's bring it back! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Gosh let's hope 2020 is a thousand times better. A stiff drink like this is what we all need about now! I'll drink to the end of the election too - and this sounds like the perfect inspiration. The color is enticing indeed! Yeah Cubs!

Getting through this election definitely requires a 'pick-me-up' like your cocktail. I can't wait until the mud-slinging is over with. We will have 2.5 years until it starts over again. (John, please start practicing your election cocktails for the new round starting 2.5 years from no- we will need your expertise)!

Hi Evelyne, I hadn't really thought about the "pink" in the name, but now that I do, it's odd from the US perspective. Of course didn't/don't fox hunters in England wear "pink" coats -- named after the tailor? Gotta look that up! Thanks for the comment.

I was just having a conversation with Batman (that's what I call my partner, :)) about the next election. He's an American transplanted here and he's worried that the next one will be even worse because it seems that people have become accustomed to the absurdity of everyone's outlandish behaviour!Time to stock up on the Pink Gin Cocktails!The colour, the glass, the beautiful shot - all perfection! Thanks, John :) and thank you, Mrs. Riffs for the giggles!

Hi Robyn, love that you call your partner Batman! Politics in the US has gotten weird -- lotta politicians seem to have lost their grounding. So yes, time to stock up on Pin Gin Cocktails! Thanks for the comment.

Hi John! As you know I just LOVE your cocktail photography. This beauty is no exception. Very inviting. And I LOVE gin cocktails. It's amazing, the little nuances of flavors in different gin varieties. I'm afraid this cocktail may do its duty long after the election is over! Thanks for sharing this! :)

Hi Anne, unfortunately given how mucky politics have been for quite a while now, we may be needing a regular ration of these. :-( Good thing the drink looks and tastes wonderful! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Looks crisp and delicious and I too would want this over the rocks too. I have just had to shut off all news stations as I feel like it is just one big huge soap opera...oh dear maybe one or better make that 2 of your delicious pink gin cocktails will keep our mind off the details.

I think we will all need a stiff one Tuesday night. And 2020? YOu've got to be kidding! And that whole thing about the ice? You are right that they wouldn't have had ice so long ago. I need my ice-can't imagine what it would taste like without!

Sadly, I am one of those people who don't like gin and I doubt the bitters would help. But the photo is quite lovely and took my mind off the mud slinging that's been going on south of our border. I wonder how our wall is coming along...Interestingly enough, I use Angostura Bitters to add a little red into browning liquid when food styling to enhance grill marks...works like a charm.

Bring on the gin! It looks like a great cocktail esp since I love gin! Our Cubbies won, now if only our fave candidate would tomorrow! I need to make this great drink to celebrate! Thanks for the recipe!